COSTUMED lacemakers celebrated the national Lace Guild's silver anniversary by setting up their stalls in an historic York building.

Members of York Area Lacemakers (YAL) showed off their skills at Barley Hall, in Coffee Yard.

They were among a range of craft workers taking part in the 2002 Heritage Open Day at the hall.

The annual event sees buildings which would normally charge a fee or be closed to the public throw open their doors free of charge.

YAL secretary Muriel Pickett said: "People ask what is the purpose of hand-made lace in the 21st century, as machine lace has taken over the making of lace. But men and women can now make lace for pleasure and thousands are doing just that."

Other York buildings taking part in the open days were the medieval Church of St Denys, in St Denys Road, the two Holy Trinity churches, in Goodramgate and Micklegate, and the Unitarian chapel in St Saviourgate.

And, as reported in Friday's Evening Press, York's 18th century Crown Court threw its doors open to the public.

In Ryedale, a wide range of events included a walk around Rievaulx Abbey, a Pickering town tour or an eight-mile walk in the region's hills.

Updated: 11:48 Monday, September 16, 2002